Jason Statham unrecognisable as Team GB Olympics hopeful in resurfaced snap

Hollywood star Jason Statham looks entirely different in throwback images which see him competing for Britain in a diving event amid bid to join Team GB for Olympics

By: irishmirror.ie

Jul 27 2024
37
2889 Views

Jason Statham unrecognisable a

Jason Statham is totally unrecognisable in a throwback image of him competing as a Team GB Olympic hopeful.

The Hollywood star originally trained as a diver before trading the sport for a career in acting. He made two attempts to qualify for the Olympics and at the age of 22 represented England in the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.

At the competition he competed in the 1m springboard, 3m springboard and 10m platform events. But he didn't achieve the desired success with his efforts achieving him a peak position of eighth place in the 1m springboard, with him coming in 11th place in the other two events.

Jason Statham — Jason was a professional diver before turning his hand to acting (Image: BBC)

At the time he showed off his toned physique and full thick dark hair as he performed a series of dives. The appearance is a stark contrast to how he is known to movie fans with his bald head and stubble. Jason, 57, took part in trials for the 1988 and 1992 Olympics in his sporting heyday, however he failed to qualify when he tried out not quite making the cut for the hugely competitive team. He previously discussed his foray into the sport and how he got into it in an interview with Katie Couric.

He told the American presenter: "I was on holiday in Florida with my mum and dad and there was a guy who used to do a high dive at noon every day from one of the hotels we stayed in. And I say 'When we get home, I am going to do that.' I joined the club then, I was like 11 or 12 years old."

The British actor continued: "Within a year, I was part of the British team and it gained momentum and I spent the next 10 years doing that." While he no longer competes in sports Jason has kept his passion for them alive and is known to regularly enjoy taking part in several different pursuits.

His passions include adrenaline sports such as wakeboarding, jet skiing, windsurfing and rock climbing. He spends much of his free time when not on set filming partaking in the activities. The action star has been engaged to the former Victoria's Secret Angel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 37, since 2016, with the pair having since welcomed two children, a son named Jack, seven, and a two-year-old daughter named Isabella.

The couple have been dating since 2009 and while they are known to keep things low-key and private, the couple have gushed about each other in interviews before. Rosie previously said of Jason in a chat with Porter : "Jay is my greatest protector. I hope he would say the same for me with him… He has been a great mentor for me with work and navigating the industries."

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.